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Gary Myers has worked with the following artists:
Al Wilson, Billy Strange, Carolyn Willis (Honey Cone), Cash McCall, Champs, Chuck Berry, Coasters, Danny McBride (Sha Na Na), Del Shannon, Del Vikings, Dickie Betts (Allman Brothers), Dobie Gray, Donnie Brooks, Flamingos, Fred Travelena, Gene Pitney, Greg Adams (Tower of Power), Ink Spots, Jay Graydon, Jerry Naylor, Jerry Van Dyke, Jerry Wallace, Jewel Akens, Jimmy Bryant, Joe Turner, Johnny Tillotson, Larry Carlton, Larry Gatlin, Lee Greenwood, Lee Thornberg (Tower of Power), Llew Mathews (Nancy Wilson), Lou Johnson, Louis Satterfield (Earth, Wind & Fire), Mary Wells, Mike Clifford, Molly Bee, Olympics, Paul Smith (piano - Ella Fitzgerald), Penguins, Platters, Ray Peterson, Rivingtons, Shirelles, Skip Stephenson, Surfaris, Thom Bresh, Tommy Roe, Wolfman Jack ... and many others. He has also connected with additional artists and personalities in alternating shows, sit-in's, etc. |
Gary Myers was born in Milwaukee and began playing his brother’s drums at age nine. His best friend next door was taking clarinet lessons and they tried to emulate Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa (this was pre r'n'r, folks). Gary's family moved to Bradenton, Florida in 1957 (his dad retired - what else could they do?) and he joined his first rock 'n' roll band in spring 1960. In December he moved to the Swingin’ Saints, which included future Allman Brothers guitarist Dickie Betts. In fall 1961 he landed his first full-time gig with the Night Beats at Pat’s Supper Club in St. Petersburg. By the end of the year the quartet connected with Milwaukee's Artists Corporation of America and they hit the road in the Midwest at the beginning of 1962 (shows you how smart THEY were - from Florida to Milwaukee in January!)
That fall the Night Beats added Milwaukee guitarist Denny King; in spring 1963 Gary and Denny left to re-form Denny's Darnells and they motored west on route 66. The trio gigged in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, California, enjoyed the scenery and the local beauties, and released three singles on the Los Angeles based Tide Records label. After returning to Milwaukee that fall, the Darnells broke up and Gary joined the Cashmeres, who became the Mojo Men after recording a remake of “Mojo Workout” in 1964. In summer of '65 the Mojo Men relocated to the L.A. area where they evolved into the Portraits in 1966 (the San Francisco Mojo Men had just scored a hit record so we needed a new name). They backed many name artists and signed with Mike Curb, releasing three singles, appearing on two motion picture soundtrack LP’s, doing a couple of TV shows, and recording a 1968 Schaefer Beer commercial in New York. During the summer of 1967 Gary simultaneously played a steady weekend after-hours gig with guitarist Larry Carlton. Gary left the Portraits in 1969 and traveled for a few months with the Cee & Dee Review before returning to SoCal and playing a variety of local gigs. In summer 1972 he worked Lake Tahoe and Reno with comedian Jerry Van Dyke and a few months later he rejoined the Portraits, who combined with a Modesto-based comedy team, Sanetti & Rueda, to form a show group. They appeared in Reno, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Tucson and many other West Coast show rooms. Gary left again in 1975 and has since worked with hundreds of musicians, backed more name artists and played in a wide variety of musical settings. Over the years he added guitar and bass (and occasionally keyboard and vibes) to his repertoire, and he sang in the Sounds of Swing vocal group from 1989-2004. Gary left the full-time club work in 1982 but he continued to play weekly. Local area engagements have included Disneyland, the Hollywood Palladium, Knotts Berry Farm, Carpenter Performing Arts Center, the Los Angeles Convention Center, the Queen Mary, and dozens of country clubs and hotels. |